This past month has been a frightening experience for those who live in the Southeast United States. Hurricanes Helene and Milton destroyed homes and businesses and ended lives in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, and Tennessee.
Food allergies add a layer of danger during natural disasters. Not only do allergy sufferers have to prepare for a week without power and water, but they also have to prepare for a long period without access to many of the safe foods they are used to picking up from the grocery store or restaurants.
Our family lives in Florida which has the pleasure of having hurricane season every summer (June 1-November 30). Each year we purchase supplies or replenish those that need them. According to Floridadisaster.org, each family should have one gallon of water for each person per day and at least seven days of non-perishable food. Preparing well ahead of the storm is paramount for allergy sufferers. When a hurricane’s path is announced and everyone goes out to buy supplies, the one type of safe bread, alternative milk, or pasta will likely have already sold out to people desperate for food and supplies for their families.
Our family buys supplies throughout the year and slowly replenishes our hurricane kit during store sales. Being that specialty foods are far more expensive to purchase, this is a huge undertaking. Recently, my husband has been stockpiling safe MRE-style foods that are safe for my daughter to eat. He stated that if we are in a situation in which we have to rely on the government or area food banks to feed us, there is very little available to a person with multiple food allergies.
Do you have any tips for allergy sufferers during natural disasters? Let me know in the comments below.
